AN: Lauren's been so productive lately that I thought I'd better get another one in to even things out a bit. Anne Boleyn/Princess Elizabeth mother/daughter to the wonderful song Run by Snow Patrol, which I don't own. I don't own the song Anne sings to Elizabeth, that's just a traditional song called "Strawberry Fair". Set somewhere between January and May 1536, when Anne knows something's wrong, but isn't sure what. Warning, if you're emotional, you may need some tissues handy…

'I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done

And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

"Sing, Mama! Sing!" Elizabeth begged her, looking up at her with those dark eyes; dark eyes so like her own. Anne knew she should be getting back, it was late. She'd had to fight so hard with Henry to have this day at Hatfield at all. She couldn't give him any reason to doubt her motives. Not now. Not now she'd lost her precious boy; her saving grace; her son. But one glance down at her little daughter's heart-shaped face and she couldn't find it in her to say no.

"One more song then, Lisabelle. One more. But then Mama really has to say goodbye."

Pacified, Elizabeth snuggled back into her arms, a confident smile on her face. Anne felt the warmth of her young body against hers and had to catch her to her. Just for a moment. After all, who knew when she'd get another chance to hold Elizabeth? Her beautiful, innocent Elizabeth, who knew nothing of life's cruelties?

"Mama! You hold me too tight!" Elizabeth protested.

Managing a chuckle that was more like a sob, Anne forced herself to loosen her hold on her daughter and began to croon a nursery rhyme,

"As I was going to Strawberry Fair,
Singing, singing, buttercups and daisies,
I met a maiden taking her wares, fol-de-dee.
Her eyes were blue and golden her hair,
As she went on to Strawberry Fair."

"Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-li-do,
Ri-fol, Ri-fol, Tol-de-riddle-dee."

To Anne's astonishment, Elizabeth's piping voice joined hers in the chorus. She stared at her little girl, "Have you learnt the song too?"

Elizabeth nodded, "Yes, Mama. Lady Mary teached me. I make you proud?"

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you, dear

"Yes, Lisabelle. Mama's proud. Mama will always be proud of you. Always."

Anne could have cried. How could she ever leave Elizabeth tonight? How could she ever leave her darling Lisabelle? Her clever little darling, who was looking up at her expectantly with those wonderful Boleyn eyes; the eyes that would probably cause her no end of trouble as she grew up. Anne wished she didn't have to. She wished she could stay here, at Hatfield, bringing her daughter up, teaching her new songs, new stories, new dances. Delighting in her successes, commiserating with her when she failed at something and indulging her shamelessly. She could never say no to this angelic child.

Louder, louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak, I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbyes
I nearly do

But she couldn't stay. She knew she couldn't. However Henry was treating her, she was still the Queen of England. She was still the Boleyn Queen of England. She had to get back to Court and get herself back into the King's good graces. Back into his bed. She had to do it, or die trying. She owed it to the Boleyns, to the Howards and to herself.

So when she finished the song, she ignored Elizabeth's pleas for another and instead placed her on the floor before kneeling in front of her.

"Lisabelle, listen to me. Listen to Mama. I've got to go back to Court and see Papa. I've got to stay with him for a while. It might be a long while before I see you again. I don't know what will happen and I might not be able to visit for a long time. Do you understand?"

Yes, Mama. But I come to Court. I see you. See Papa."

Elizabeth's grave confidence; the confidence of being her father's precious rose; his Jewel of England, was enough to make tears prick at Anne's eyelids. How could she explain to Elizabeth that things were different now, that she, her mother, whom Elizabeth revered as intelligent, beautiful and the unchallenged Queen, was no longer invincible? That she was fighting to keep all she had gained over the past decade, perhaps even for her own life?

She couldn't. She, who had always been so good with words, couldn't find the words to tell her daughter what was happening.

So she merely reached out and pulled her daughter to her, stroking the rich coppery tresses as she whispered, "I hope so, Lisabelle. I hope so."

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you, dear

Louder, louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak, I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

Slower, slower
We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way
To get out of our little heads

Have heart, my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess

"Madam? Your carriage is outside. And it is time for Her Highness to retire."

Lady Bryan's voice broke into Anne's reverie and she started, before gathering herself and calling out, "A moment, Lady Bryan. Let us just say our farewells."

"Of course, Your Majesty." The elder woman withdrew and Anne turned back to her daughter.

"I hope we will see one another soon, Lisabelle, but that might not be the case. I don't know what will happen. But know this, my heart. I love you. I'll always love you."

"Love you, Mama." Elizabeth replied, throwing her arms around Anne's neck. Anne smiled and bent to kiss her baby girl, before continuing, "Thank you, Lisabelle. That means more than you know, darling. But now I need you to do something for me. I need you to be brave. I need you to be brave and always think the best of me. Whatever you hear about me, I need you to think the best of me. I need you to be good for Lady Bryan. And Papa. Whatever happens, never do anything to make Papa angry at you, if you can help it."

Anne could see the questions in Elizabeth's eyes, but, knowing she was running out of time, she hushed her.

"No questions, Lisabelle. Please. Do you understand what I've told you?"

"Yes Mama."

"Good. So will you do it for me? Will you promise to do it for me?"

"Yes, Mama. I promise."

"Good. Good girl," Anne found her voice was hoarse with barely-suppressed tears, but she managed to kiss her daughter in farewell as she murmured, "Now go with Lady Bryan and keep that promise for me. And remember, whatever happens, whatever you hear, I love you. Everything I do, I do for you. I love you with all my heart and I bid you never forget it."

"I won't, Mama!" Elizabeth promised fervently, before pressing another sloppy kiss on her mother's cheek and wriggling out of her arms. She skipped to the door and found Lady Bryan, who was already waiting for her.

Anne watched them out of sight, fighting the urge to call them back, to sweep Elizabeth up into her arms and never let her go. But she couldn't do that. Not only would it scare Elizabeth, but it wasn't what a Queen would do. And she was so desperate to show that, whatever she might have done in the past, she was capable of acting as a Queen should when it was required of her.

If she was going to go; if Henry was going to set her aside, then she would at least act the Queen right up until the very last minute. Right up until he actually stripped her of her title.

To that end, Anne waited until she was alone in her carriage and the thundering of the horse's hooves would mask the sound of her sobbing before she broke down into floods of tears.

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you, dear